History

Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries (Goodwill) was established in Boston’s South End in 1895 by Reverend Edgar J. Helms and is the founding organization of a worldwide network of more than 200 Goodwill affiliates.

Reverend Helms conceived the idea of collecting unwanted household goods and employing impoverished immigrants to repair and refurbish the items for resale. Revenue by the sales paid the workers' wages. The system worked, and the Goodwill method of self-help and achieving independence was born.

Over the years, the range of Goodwill’s work has broadened significantly. Today, we serve individuals who face a variety of barriers to self-sufficiency, such as physical and/or developmental disabilities, homelessness, low educational attainment, limited job skills and welfare dependency. Through training and work programs, career services, youth outreach, and retail and business enterprises, Goodwill helps to equip individuals with the tools necessary to meet new challenges and create more rewarding and independent lives. Goodwill is one of the largest employers of people with disabilities in New England.